Expansible hanger bars for supporting electric outlet boxes



July 26, 1955 M. KAY 2,713,983

EXPANSIBLE HANGER BARS FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC OUTLET BOXES Filed Feb.9, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

nited EXPANSIBLE HANGER BARS FDR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC OUTLET BOXES Thepresent invention relates to expansible hanger bars for supportingelectric outlet boxes, and has for its main object the provision of ahanger bar embodying a tubular portion, preferably of a square formationon transverse cross section, and a threaded rod receivable within saidtubular portion, and whereby the two may adjustably expand when one isrotatably shifted with relation to the other.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a hanger barof the character indicated wherein the tubular portion and the threadedrod at their free ends may be provided with a set of prongs capable ofbeing driven into a pair of adjacent wooden joists in ceilings or walls.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a hanger barof the character indicated wherein the tubular portion thereof may bemade of an oblong strip of metallic material, which when suitably bentmay have a pair of complementary sections, each provided with a threadedrecess, the two recesses forming a threaded bore when the section are intheir contacting operative position for the purpose of receiving thethreaded rod.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear asthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed outin the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application, and in which likedesignating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views;

Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevational view of the hanger bar made inaccordance with the present invention, engaged by its ends with a pairof spaced joists, and having an electric outlet box suspended thereon inan operative position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view, on line 22 of Fig. 1,illustrating the manner of afiixing an electric outlet box to the hangerbar;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the outer end ofthe tubular portion of the hanger bar with prong-supporting plateswivelly supported upon the end of said tubular portion of the hangerbar;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the tubular portion of the hangerbar of another construction;

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the tubular portion of the hangerbar illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the present drawing there is shown a hanger barwhich includes tubular portion 10 provided with a longitudinal bore 11.The body portion of said tubular portion 10 adjacent said bore 11 andwithin the inner end thereof is threaded as at 12 for receivingtherewithin in a threaded relation threaded rod 13.

The free end of said threaded rod 13 carries in a rigid relation plate14 from which a plurality of prongs 15 project in an outward direction.The opposite end of tubular portion 10 of the hanger bar is providedwith a reduced lug 16, round in a transverse cross section, which passesthrough plate 17 which plate by its outer face supports a plurality ofprongs 18. The outer end of said lug 16 is hammered down to define rivethead 19. The diameter of said lug 16 is smaller than the diameter of thebore in plate 17 through which said lug 16 is passed, permitting freerotary movement of said lug 16 within said plate 17. By virtue of thisarrangement plate 17 is freely swivelled upon the outer end of saidtubular portion 10 of the hanger bar.

From the hereinabove description it will be seen that when the hangerbar is placed between and transversely of a pair of spaced joists 20,and prongs 15 carried by the threaded rod 13 are pressed against theadjacent surface of the adjacent joist 29 said latter prongs will bedriven into said joist for maintaining said threaded rod 13 in astationary relation with respect to said joists 20. When a rotarymovement to the tubular portion 10 of the hanger bar is applied, firstby hand, and when prongs 18 have been engaged with the adjacent oppositejoist 20, with a wrench, and a rotary movement to said tubular portion10 is continued to be applied, said tubular portion 10 will shift uponthreaded rod 13. By virtue of this action the two parts of the hangerbar, that is tubular portion 10 and threaded rod 13 will expand, withthe result that prongs 15 carried by threaded rod 13 and prongs 18carried by tubular portion 10 of the hanger bar will be fully driveninto the adjacent and respective joists 20, as is seen in Fig. 1, forrigidly supporting the hanger bar between the pair of adjacent joistsand in a firm engagement therewith through prongs 15 and 18.

It is noted that during the rotary shifting movement of tubular portion10 of the hanger bar plate 17 and prongs 18 are stationary, that is theydo not rotate with said tubular portion 10 by virtue of the swivelledconnection of said tubular portion 10 with said plate 17 through saidlug 16, as was hereinabove described.

In an encompassing and longitudinally sliding relation with said tubularportion 10 of the hanger bar is collar 21, which is square on transversecross section, and which upon each of its four faces is provided with athreaded bore 22.

Electric outlet box 23 has upon its peripheral side a plurality ofindents 24, which when forced out of the body portion of said peripheralside will define openings through which electric wires may be extended.Externally threaded stud 25 by its outwardly flanged end 26 is extendedthrough a central opening made in the end wall 27 of box 23. Wingedlocknut 28 threadedly engages said stud 25 and bears by its free endsagainst the inner face of said end wall 27. The opposite end of saidstud 25 has a countersunk bore for receiving the head of a flatheadscrew 29. Said screw 29 is adapted to engage anyone of said threadedbores 22 and when so engaged said stud 25 is firmly clamped to theadjacent face of said collar 21, said screw by its threaded end bearingagainst the face of said tubular portion 10 of the hanger bar.

By virtue of the arrangement described it will be noted that beforeapplying outlet box 2.3 to collar 21 the collar is adjusted upon saidtubular portion 10 of the hanger bar, and when said collar 21 has beenbrought to a desired point upon said tubular portion 10 of the hangerbar the outlet box 23 is then rigidly engaged with said collar throughthe medium of said screw 29.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 contemplatesmaking the tubular portion of the hanger bar out of an oblong strip ofmetallic material, which when properly formed will define connecting endmember 30 from which lug 31 projects. Each of the sides 32 adjacenttheir opposite ends is provided with solid block 33. Adjacent the innerface of each of said blocks 33 a complementary threaded groove 34- ismade. The two grooves 34 when said blocks are brought in a mutualcontactual relation define threaded bore 35 for receiving therewithin ina threaded adjustable relation threaded rod 13. In order that the endsof said sides 32 having said blocks 33 would not spread away from eachother but would be maintained in a rigid mutual relation a plurality ofmetallic bands 36 are passed around said sides 32 and at their portionswherein said blocks 33 are located. Each of said sides is provided witha pair of inwardly extending Wings 37. A pair of said wings 37 along theopposed edges of said sides 32 define a solid wall section 38. A pair ofopposed walls 38 in conjunction with the adjacent portions of sides 32define a tubular section for adjusting thereon in a longitudinalrelation collar 21. That tubular section is capable of supporting outletbox 23 with screw 29 engaging thereat either one of said sides 32 or oneof said wall sections 38. Lug 31 receives plate 17 carrying prongs 18,and when the free end of said lug 31 is thereupon hammered down the samewill define rivet head such as head 19 for preventing the disengagementfrom lug 31 the prongcarrying plate such as plate 17. Of course platesuch as plate 17 should be swivelled upon lug 31 for the purposesalready mentioned.

From the hereinabove description it will be seen that tubular portion 10or sides 32 of the hanger bar are capable of rotation by means ofordinary wrench. Collar 21 is preferably provided with a threaded boreon each of its four sides in order that that bore 22 may receive screw29 for supporting box 23, which has been brought.

to the lowermost position by rotatably turning tubular portion 10 orsides 32 of the hanger bar.

It is further observed that the conventional hanger bars now in generaluse are afiixed to the joists by passing nails or screws through theends of the hanger bar and driving the screws or nails into the joists.This operation necessarily requires complete exposure of the joists andthis in turn requires a large opening to be made either in the ceilingor in the wall. On the other hand, the present invention requires acomparatively small opening in the ceiling in order to inserttherethrough the hanger bar including the tubular portion 10 or sides32, as the case may be, with the cooperating threaded rod 13, withcollar 21 already in an operative position. When said parts have beeninserted through the opening made, with prongs 15 pressed against one ofthe joists 20, all that is required to drive said prongs 15 as well asprongs 18 into the respective joists is the manipulation of the tubularportion 10 or sides 32 by means of a wrench, until both of said prongs15 and 18 have been fully driven into their respective joists. Thereuponcollar 21, already on the tubular portion 10 or sides 32 is shifted foradjusting said collar within the opening made in the ceiling or thewall, and thereupon affixing the outlet box 23 to said collar by meansof screw 29 as was already described.

It is also noted that collar 21 is inserted upon sides 32 of themodified form of invention shown in Fig. 4 before prong-carrying platehas been mounted upon lug 31 and before said lug 31 has been hammereddown, or if preferred said collar 21 may be inserted from the oppositeend of that portion of the hanger bar before bends 32 have been applied.

Of course, screw 29 driven through one of said bores 22 will stronglybear against the adjacent face of the tubular portion 10 of the hangerbar or one of the sides 32 or walls 38, thereby maintaining said collar21 in a strong engagement with the hanger bar, preventing the same fromshifting in either direction with relation thereto.

It is further noted that prongs 15 and 18 fully driven into the joistswill render the hanger bar capable of supporting electric fixtures ofconsiderable Weight, more so than the conventional hanger bars.

The present hanger bar is most particularly adapted for use inconnection with the ceilings or walls already made and plastered,particularly in cases Where the location of additional electric outletsare required after the dwelling has been built and its ceilings andwalls have been plastered.

Affixable to the free lower end of said stud 25 in a threaded relationis a hollow rod upon which any type of electric fixture may besuspended.

While there is described herein preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What 1 claim as new is:

1. A hanger bar of the class described comprising a tubular portion,said tubular portion being formed out of an oblong metallic strip todefine a pair of opposed sides and a connecting member therebetween atone of the ends thereof, adjacent the opposite end each of said sidescarrying an integrally formed block on the inner face thereof, each ofsaid blocks being provided with a longitudinally complementary threadedgroove, the grooves in the two blocks defining a threaded bore when saidblocks are brought in a face to face relation, binding means formaintaining said blocks in a face to face relation, a threaded rodreceived within said threaded bore, a prong-carrying plate afiixed tothe said connecting member, said plate being in a swivelled relationwith said connecting member, and a prong-carrying plate affixed to thefree end of said threaded rod.

2. A joist engaging hanger bar for supporting electric outlet boxescomprising a tubular portion, said tubular portion being formed out ofan oblong metallic strip to define a pair of opposed sides and aconnecting member therebetween at one of the ends thereof, adjacent theopposite end each of said sides carrying an integrally formed block onthe inner face thereof, each of said blocks being provided with alongitudinal complementary threaded groove, the grooves in the twoblocks defining a threaded bore when said blocks are brought in a faceto face relation, binding means for maintaining said blocks in a face toface relation, a threaded rod received within said threaded bore, saidrod being capable of a rotary shifting movement within said blocks forextending the same therefrom, and means carried by said connectingmember and the free end of said rod for engaging a pair of spaced joistswhen said rod has been extended.

3. An extensible hanger bar for supporting electrical outlet boxescomprising a tubular portion, said tubular portion being formed out ofan oblong metallic strip to define a pair of opposed sides and aconnecting member therebetween at one of the ends thereof, adjacent theopposite end each of said sides carrying an integrally formed block onthe inner face thereof, each of said blocks being provided with alongitudinal complementary threaded groove, the grooves in the twoblocks defining a threaded bore when said blocks are brought in a faceto face relation, binding means for maintaining said blocks in a face toface relation, and a threaded rod received within said threaded bore.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 92,012Burgess June 29, 1869 926,399 Fleming June 29, 1909 1,256,849 VandreuilFeb. 19, 1918 1,299,556 Crecelius Apr. 8, 1919 1,506,330 Vandy Aug. 26,1924 1,681,010 Raggio Aug. 14, 1928 1,892,286 Nyberg Dec. 27, 19322,140,861 Steketee Dec. 20, 1938 2,461,794 Williams Feb. 15, 19492,606,667 HOIIllCk Aug. 12, 1952 2,644,191 Meyer July 7, 1953

